No fewer than eleven of the inmates of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Ibara, Ogun State, have formally been offered admission to pursue various first degree programmes at the Abeokuta Study Centre of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The inmates were admitted to study their chosen courses ranging from Business Administration, Political Science, Criminology, Security Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution to public administration among others.
The fresh students took the University’s matriculation oaths at the Ibara centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Abeokuta, swearing to be of good behaviour and face their studies diligently.
The ceremony was conducted by the Management of NOUN led the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, with the institution’s Registrar, the Comptroller of the NCS, Ogun State, AbdulRasheed Halimi, the Assistant Superintendent of Correction 1 and Social Welfare/Education Desk Officer, Mr. Awesu AbdulHakeem, among others dignitaries in attendance.
Addressing the new students, the Comptroller General of Corrections, Haliru Hababa, who spoke through AbdulRasheed Halimi said that about 3,000 inmates were undergoing various programmes with the National Open University and other Higher institutions in partnership with the Correctional Service for several years.
Halimi implored all students to take advantage of this golden opportunity to add more value to their lives, disclosing that NOUN has produced not only graduates, but also Masters degrees and PHD holders of various fields.
“Of significant note is the fact that this fruitful partnership with NOUN has produced not only graduates but Masters degree and PHD holders,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern that some unpatriotic elements have continued to test the will of the government by attempting to distort the positive trajectory of the fruitful partnership with NOUN.
On his parts, the NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters challenged the matriculated inmates to be diligent and thirst for knowledge, urging them not to understand that they now have another chance to make their families and the nation happy.